Cargo Throughput at Port of Rio Grande up 17% in September

In September, over four million tonnes of cargo made their way to the Port of Rio Grande, up 17% from August. The solid bulk cargo segment led the charge, accounting for more than 2.5 million tonnes.

However, the cumulative figures for the first nine months of 2024 show a slight 0.34% decline in total cargo throughput compared to the same period in 2023. The ports of Pelotas and Porto Alegre experienced even steeper declines.

Grains and fertilizers were some of the key commodities passing through Rio Grande do Sul terminals last month. General cargo was the second-largest category at some 1.1 million tonnes, followed by liquid bulk (315,400 tonnes).

According to Cristiano Klinger, president of Portos RS, the growth seen in September can be attributed to the harvest season and an uptick in certain supply chains. “When we look at the freight of soybeans, wheat, and wood chips, we know that these are the products driving the growth,” he noted.

The Port of Rio Grande last reached four million tonnes in September 2021, during a bumper harvest year.

The chart below uses DataLiner data to assess container exports and imports at the Port of Rio Grande between January 2022 and August 2024.

Rio Grande Container Exports & Imports | Jan 2022 – Aug 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Comparison to 2023

Between January and September this year, the Port of Rio Grande handled 31.8 million tonnes of cargo, reflecting a 0.34% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. However, Rio Grande saw the smallest decline among the state’s ports, with Pelotas down by 16.68% and Porto Alegre by 15.82%.

According to Antônio Campos Ozório, the Port of Pelotas operations manager, the decline was due to the 18-day closure caused by flooding in May. “The floods impacted volumes transported at our ports, but we hope to recover some of the lost throughput by year-end.”

Klinger added that the minimal drop at Rio Grande demonstrates the port’s ability to maintain operations despite the challenges posed by the flooding. “Despite everything, we’re seeing nearly the same throughput as last year, which is an encouraging sign of our resilience.”

Commodities

Soybeans stood out in terms of growth, with a 2.5% increase in volume between 2023 and 2024, totaling 7.2 million tonnes this year. Pulp followed with 2.8 million tonnes, and soy meal came in third with 2.7 million tonnes.

The farming goods segment, which includes grains, flours, meals, and cereals, gained prominence at Rio Grande, with 14.2 million tonnes handled so far.

Imports and Exports

Rio Grande had received 7.6 million tonnes of imported goods by the end of September. China was the location of origin for most of the inbound cargo at the port, accounting for 1.179 million tonnes, followed by Argentina with 1.132 million tonnes and Russia with 608,000 tonnes.

On the export side, China is also the leading export destination, with 7.3 million tonnes shipped. Vietnam followed with 880,000 tonnes, and Iran with 854,000 tonnes. In total, 17.7 million tonnes were exported to more than ten countries via the Port of Rio Grande.

Source: A Hora do Sul

Click here to read the original news reporting: https://ahoradosul.com.br/conteudos/2024/10/11/movimentacao-no-porto-de-rio-grande-cresce-17-em-setembro/

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